Rock ‘N’ Race on the Goldie
V8 Supercars is affectionately known as the ‘circus’, and it is taking the whole shebang to this weekend’s Armor All Gold Coast 600. Don’t expect any to see any lions parading down pit straight but we’re sure the Miss V8 Supercars girls will be more than adequate compensation!
After last year’s debacle where the A1GP category was a no-show, event organisers have got creative to add an international element to the reborn Gold Coast event. Each V8 Supercar team has been allocated an international driver who will co-drive with our home grown pool of steerers. The imports include luminaries such as former Formula 1 drivers Jacques Villeneuve (Bottle-O Racing), Mika Salo (Bundy Red Racing) and Gianni Morbidelli (Bing Lee/Panasonic Racing) and a bunch of the best IZOD IndyCar drivers including reigning champ Dario Franchitti. The Scotsman is likely not to drive with his friend and V8 Supercar championship leader James Courtney, instead teaming up with fellow Jim Beam racer Steve Johnson. While Franchitti would love to race around the streets of the Gold Coast in an open wheeler like they did back in the old days, he said getting behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar there is the next best thing.
Pic: Bathurst is now a blur in the memory as the V8s head to the Goldy.
Credit: Justin Deeley
“I have always been a fan of V8 Supercars and I’ve been bugging a few friends in Australia for a drive at Bathurst for a few years, but dates have never fallen in my favour,” he explained.
“To be back in Surfers Paradise in a V8 Supercar is going to be cool and there is not one international driver in the field that I have spoken with who is not serious about winning the event – and that goes double for me.
“To win at Surfers Paradise in both a ChampCar and V8 Supercar would be something pretty special, but with the competition and the talent level in this year’s field, not to mention the challenge of getting up to speed in a V8 Supercar, it will be a difficult task for sure.”
The internationals will get a chance to drive their V8s, some for the first time, at a test day at Queensland Raceway on Wednesday before the Armor All Gold Coast 600 begins on Friday. Besides the V8 races, there will be a heap of other on-track activities including the return of the Pirtek Australian Legends category which replaced the A1GP at last year’s Gold Coast races. Drivers like Dick Johnson, Jim Richards and Kevin Bartlett will drive legendary cars including the Tru-Blu Falcon and the Channel 9 Camaro. Then, legends Allan Moffat and Colin Bond will get behind the wheel of their original #1 and #2 XC Ford Falcons to recreate their form finish from the 1977 Bathurst 1000 on Sunday.
When the racing’s over for the day, the concerts kick off as part of ‘the party the Gold Coast has to have’. A Friday night dance party includes acts like Kid Kenobi, the Potbellleez, Static Revenger and Ian Carey and the 600 Sounds presented by Hard Rock continues on Saturday night featuring Richard Clapton, Mondo Rock, The Angels, Noiseworks, Baby Animals and The Beach Boys.
There are too many activities that make up the Armor All Gold Coast 600 to mention so head to www.goldcoast600.com.au for more information. To buy tickets to the event, which includes entry to the 600 Sounds concerts, visit www.ticketek.com.au
